The anniversary show and sale of store cattle at Dingwall Auction Mart saw better-than-expected trade yesterday with a total of 1,261 store cattle put through the ring.
Buyers from across the north and north-east travelled to Dingwall to purchase store beasts from across the Highlands and islands, at the mart which yesterday celebrated its 11th birthday.
The mart’s managing director, Ian Tolmie, praised the quality of the cattle sold throughout the day, which included forward stores, yearlings and weaned calves.
“It was a very strong trade with prices higher than expected, but we would like to see a reasonable and steady increase in the fat price,” he said.
Bullocks (811) averaged 228.4p a kg yesterday (-25.2p a kg on last year) and sold to a high of 276.5p a kg for a 405kg Limousin cross from Wester Tomloan, Ardclach, and £1,520 gross for a 730kg Limousin cross from Udale, Poyntzfield.
Heifers (449) averaged 217.8p a kg (-19.3p a kg on last year) and sold to 253.5p a kg for a 505kg Limousin cross from Invercharron, Ardgay, and £1,440 gross for the reserve champion – a 570kg British Blue from Udale.
Prices were back on store sales earlier in the year – a sale of around 1,000 stores on April 16 achieved an average of 243p a kg for bullocks and 232p a kg for heifers.
The overall champion of the pre-sale show, which was sponsored by T.S.H. Burns and Son, solicitors, went to the intermediate champion.
The 470kg 15-month-old Limousin cross heifer from J. Munro and Son, Invercharron, Ardgay, was purchased by Blackmuir Livestock, Keith, for £1,110.
Show judge Donald Morrison, of Burnside, Kinlochbervie, awarded his reserve overall champion award to the senior champion.
This 570kg 20-month-old British Blue cross heifer from Tom Henderson, Udale, Poyntzfield, sold for £1,440.
The junior champion – a 510kg 11-month-old Limousin bullock from Smallburn Farms, Elgin – achieved £1,150, while the reserve junior champion – a 405kg nine-month-old Charolais cross bullock from A. and D. Renwick, Keppoch Farm, Dundonnell – made £1,100.
The reserve intermediate champion – a 545kg 14-month-old Limousin cross bullock from W.F. Cruikshank and Sons, Clury Farm – sold for £1,290.
While the reserve senior champion – a 565kg Limousin cross heifer from owners of the champion, J. Munro and Son, Invercharron – sold for £1,300.
In the Aberdeen-Angus classes, the champion – a 510kg heifer from F. J. Ross and Co, The Arr – sold for £1,130, while the reserve champion – a 533kg bullock from D. and C. Sandison, Smerral, Bower – went under the hammer at £1,180.
The champion pair of bullocks from W.F. Cruikshank and Sons, Clury Farm, sold for £1,200, while the champion pair of heifers from I. and P. Gunn, Whitefield, Wick, sold for £1,110.
In the pen of four class, the best pen of bullocks – from D.J. Maclennan, Roadside, Tore – sold for £1,200, while the best lot of heifers from Smallburn Farms, sold for £1,030.
Yesterday’s sale offering also included breeding cattle including a lot from the Kinnahaird pedigree Limousin herd.
The top price of £2,600 was achieved for Kinnahaird Ellie – a February 2009-born third-calver, sold with a bull calf at foot by Kinnahaird Jura. This one is by Twemlows Brooklyn and out of Allanfauld Panda.